Endangered dolphin dead after beachgoers take selfies

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - An endangered dolphin reportedly died after a crowd of beachgoers in Argentina took it from the water and passed it around to take selfies.

Wildlife experts say that the Franciscana dolphin species could disappear in less than 30 years because they are getting caught in fishing nexts.  There are only an estimated 30,000 of them left in the oceans.

The Marine World Foundation says the dolphin in the photos was dead by the time their workers arrived on the Buenos Aires beach.

In a statement they said:  "We do not know whether he was alive or not. However, in these cases, the most important thing is to call with appropriate institutions and professionals, such as Sea World Foundation to properly attend to the animal."

The foundation said that a large number of people around the dolphin could stress it.

They said that being that the dolphin is endangered, even when dead they can provide important data to preserve the species.